`Badly Out of Sync’ Marijuana Laws Come Under Congress Scrutiny

The growing disconnect between state laws legalizing marijuana and federal prohibitions is coming under scrutiny in Congress.

“The federal law and the state laws are badly out of sync,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. Her panel plans a rare hearing on the topic Wednesday.

Eshoo said she wants to raise questions about how research is done on marijuana use and whether federal laws are blocking needed studies.

A customer smokes marijuana at the Lowell Cafe, a new cannabis lounge in West Hollywood, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.

Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg

“We’re particularly interested in examining the implications of changing marijuana’s schedule listing, the potential of cannabis research, and federal efforts to review and ...